West Ham Union Infirmary 1917

[mirl]

I see him in 1911 with his mother and the four boys all under 7. 

Given he was a widow with four dependents I doubt if he would have been conscripted after 1916 and, for the same reasons, it would seem unlikely he would volunteer.

[Jebber]

I agree with mirl, and given the cause of death, I doubt he would have been medically fit to serve anyway.

[scrimnet]

I agree with mirl, and given the cause of death, I doubt he would have been medically fit to serve anyway.

Yes, exactly...He would have failed the medical. In addition, he died in the "Union Infirmary", the Workhouse Infirmary.... If in the services, he would have been in a military/Red Cross / VAD hospital, or convalescent home, not in "the bun"

[alan o]

Chloe,

Your man is wearing an economy tunic introducing in 1915.  The photo dates form 1915 onwards.
However he has previous military service as he has a medal ribbon on his pocket.  This appears to be Boer War but you would need to check. 

The cap badge is indistinct as it appears blurred but it is likely to be Essex Regt or Northamptonshire Regt or possibly Norfolks.  Unfortunately the detail is lost by his movement or its reflection.

[Jebber]

I stand to be corrected, but the cap badge looks very much like the Royal Engineers to me.

[chloerog]

Chloe,

Your man is wearing an economy tunic introducing in 1915.  The photo dates form 1915 onwards.
However he has previous military service as he has a medal ribbon  on his pocket.  This appears to be  Boer War but you would need to  check.




The cap badge is indistinct as it appears blurred but it is likely to be Essex Regt or Northamptonshire Regt or possibly Norfolks.  Unfortunately the detail is lost by his movement or its reflection.

Any chance you would know what the medal ribbon could be? 

[Jebber]

The Queens South Africa Medal African Boer War 1899 -1902.

[scrimnet]

It's none of the badges mentioned... I am certain this is a VTC badge.... I'll try and look it up... It would explain his death in the bun...

[alan o]

The VTC were not wearing 1915 economy tunics as they were not allowed to wear Regular Army khaki as VTCs.  They had their own pattern of uniforms in a variety of shades and cuts such as the Norfolk jackets.

The VTCs became Volunteer battalions of the Army late war and were then allowed to wear khaki tunics with the Royal Coat of Arms as a cap badge or their associated battalions. In fact for a number of regts they were authorised to wear the obsolete TF battalion cap badges with blank honour scrolls that the TF had ceased to wear in 1916.

It's possible but unlikely, it is VTC and probably not Alfred. I don't suppose the photo is dated? 

A blurred RE cap badge is a strong contender; although the wreath looks wide and the crown is not clear at all.